On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Wildlife Encounters
If you ride in the backcountry
or off the main roads you'll likely encounter wildlife, large and small. You'll
pass most critters without incident, but some encounters can pose a danger to
you and/or your horse. Small animals may spook your horse; large animals,
especially predators, can be... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Introduce a Crupper
A
crupper (a strap that runs from the back of your saddle and
loops under your horse's tail) helps to hold your saddle in place on steep
downhill grades. Your horse will quickly learn to clamp his tail onto the
crupper when he heads down steep slopes; his tail contains a large bone with... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Using Reflectors
If you
know you may be riding home along a road after dark, consider using reflector
bands made for bicyclists. The silver-and-orange straps have hook-and-loop
fasteners designed to go around a cyclist's limbs, but also fit nicely around a
horse's pasterns. Use them on all four legs to help... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Relax Those Legs
Do
your knees ache after a ride? Make sure you're not bracing -- putting too much weight forward and down into your
stirrups. This undesirable position can cause soreness, as stiff joints can't
absorb your horse's motion. Stiff legs may also push your saddle back from its
usual position,... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Protect Your Eyes While on the Trail Your Horse
Fall brings cooler
temperatures, but the sun's rays can be strong in any season. Too much sun can
literally burn your eyes over time on the trail, causing damage to your cornea (the part that transmits light) and your lens (the part of your eye that helps you focus), and
causing long-term... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Fly Repellants for Your Horse When Trail Riding
If you don't like to ride with a fly mask on your horse, you know how serious
and annoying a problem face and ear flies can be on trail. Sprays and wipes don't work
well to repel all flies, and they lose effectiveness quickly
when the horse sweats.
For an effective repellant mixture for... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Fight On-Trail Pests
Insects are part of nature, and
the love of nature is one of the primary reasons you choose to trail
ride. But
"natural" doesn't always mean "beneficial." Getting up close
and personal with
insects on the trail can be downright dangerous. Some
can be irritating, some
can be painful,... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Saddle Bags
Saddlebags. What would we do without them? They hold our every
necessity -- or at least all that stuff we need when we're on the trail. From
traditional to high-tech, today's saddlebags come in a vast array of sizes,
shapes, colors, and materials. They're designed to hold everything from... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Teach the Stand-Still
When you're ready to mount your horse on the trail, insist that he stand still until you've given him a specific "go-forward" cue. He should never walk off just because another horse in your riding group has moved ahead. Allowing even one unauthorized step likely will cause him to make other... | read »
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On Trail: Tips
from the pages of Trail Rider
Protecting Trails
I can close my eyes and see it, and I can
smell it, too, the pine smoke from a campfire, pungent perfume to the nostrils
of a Rocky Mountain horseman. I can feel the quickening of my horse's fluid
muscles as he perks his ears forward and whinnies to his buddies in the valley
below. I can... | read »
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| Desert Southwest Trail Ride |
If you’ve always wanted to see the desert Southwest, the Red Rock Ride is for you. This six-day trail ride takes you through some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landmarks in the world. You’ll ride through the read |
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